Contact switch-box for electric-railway systems.



BIO/894,382. PATENTBD JULY 28, 1908, v v I 0. A. HUSE & J. G. DOUTY. v

CONTACT SWITCH BOX FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEP'ILH, 1907.

' {SHEETS-SHEET l.

J I (I V I 1 5 1 11 Na r j a E I l J 2:57 (kw 7 i I? are 7 1 55 50 Q m 'Hli anventot 86641339; J5me 'PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.- UTY.

0. A. HUSH S J. S. DO

H BOX FOR ELEOTR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w! m ewes UNITED srn'rns PATENT onrioa.

CHARLES A. HUSE AND JOHN G. DOUTY, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBLS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SIMPLEX SURFACE CONTACT COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

coN'rAcr swircH-Box son anagram-RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. Host: and JOHN G. DoU'rY, citizens of the United States, residing at Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invent'ed'new and usefullmprovements in Contact Switch-Boxes for Electric- Railway Systems, of which the following is a specification. I I

This invention relates tov electric railway systems of that class in which contact switch-' boxes are arranged" at intervals along the roadbed, said switch-boxes being successively rendered alive from a conductor Wire or feed wire by the movement of the switches from the attractive influence of magnets from the motor car so that they will deliver their current to a collecting shoe carried'by the car; said contact switch-boxes being by a succeeding movement of the switch after the car has passed, deprived of their electrical connection so as to leave them inert and harmless in-the roadbed.

More specifically, the, invention relates to that s cores of this class in which the actuation 0 the switch is eiiected by an oscillating armature working between suitably arranged ole ieces under the tem orar influence of P l the eiectro-magnets of the passing car.

The objects oi the invention are to simplify the construction, mainly by dispensing wit all wire wound electro-magnets and arnia tures in the contact switch-boxes; also to dispense with bolts, screws and all similar fastening and connecting members with the exception of the bolts which are needed to connect the cover with the switch-box, such fastenin and connecting devices being objectionable on account of their liability to become loosened and detached by the shaking and rattlingto whi h the parts aresubjected.

Further objects are to simplify and improve the general construction and manner of assembling the operative parts of the device.

'With these and other ends in view which will. readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and par ticularly pointed out in the claims.

"In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of Specification o! iietters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1907. Serial N 0. 393,298.

Patented July as, 1908.

the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, ut that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a switch-box constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a switch-box from I which the cover has been removed. .Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detachable bridge member constituting the seat of the pole pieces. one of the pole pieces,'detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the switch-box, showing the seats for one end of the bridge member. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view showing one end of the armature shaft. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the contact member'carried by the armature shaft showing said contact member detached and in position to be connected with the armature shaft. Fi 7 is a perspective detail view of a meta strip constituting the 'arm of the contact memben .Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of a piece of carbon constituting the body of the contact member showing the same notched and ready to be connected with the strip constituting the carryin arm. Fl 8 is a sectional detail view ta lren throng one side of the switchbox and showing the supporting member for the conductor wu'e or feed wire which cooperates with the contact member carried by the armature shaft. Fi 9 is a perspective view of a modified form 0 contact member carried by the armature, therein being a fuse included in the contact member.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The switch-box, which may be oi any. suitable shape and dimensions, and which is preferably made of cast metal, consists of a receptacle or body 1 having a neatly fitting cap or cover 2, detachably connected; with said body by means of screws or stud bolts 3 engaging threaded lugs or bosses i in the bottom of the box; the heads 5 of said bolts being countersunk in the cap or cover so as to be flush with the upper surface of the latter. The body 1 is provided with laterally extending apcrturcd hws 7 for the pas- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of 1 sage of fastening members whereby itniay be secured in position for operation; and the cap or cover is preferably constructed witha raised portion or boss 8 constituting a contactportion adapted for engagement with the collector shoe of the car.

The body of the box is provided atoppo site sides with interiorly disposed projections 9, the upper ends of which have recesses forming shoulders 10 affording seats for the bridge member B. The latter consists of an approximately rectangular frame, made preferably of cast metal, and of suitable size and shape to fit neatly in the'box across which it extends the ends of said bridge member being provided with notches 11 to accommodate the bolts or connecting members 3. The sides of the bridge member are provided with perforations 12 .constituting bearings for a stem or shaft 13 carrying the oscillating armature A, which latter is constructed with a weighted body 14 tending, by gravity, to sustain said armature normally in an approximately vertical or upright position; said armature being also provided with a curved or arcuate head 15 which is disposed mainly to one side of a vertical plane coinciding with the axis' of the shaft 13. The bridge member B is provided in the inner faces of the sidesthereof with notches or recesses 16 afiording seats for the pole pieces 17 which latter are made of soft iron, and of the shape clearly represented in Figs. 1 and .4 of the drawings, by reference to which it will appear that said pole pieces are in the form ofwedges having curved orarcuate faces and provided at the sides thereof with shoulders or offsets '18 adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the side pieces of the bridge member; the lower ends of the wedge shaped pole pieces being shaped to fit the recesses 16. By this construction, the pole pieces may be assembled with the bridge member by simply dropping them into the seats; they being supported by the shoulders 17 as will be readily understood. The upper ends of the pole pieces have flat .faces 19 which lie closely adjacent to the underside of theca or cover when the latter .out the use of ho is in position, an said cap or cover will positively prevent displacement of the pole pieces, thus keeping the parts securely as- 'sembled.

. ceive a portion of the metal which is forced or "0. set into said notches, thus securely assem ling the strip 21 with the shaft 13 withts, rivets 0; other fastening an intermediate tongue 25, the extremity of- Which latter is preferably cut or trimmed off so that said tongue will be shorter than the prongs. the strip to be readily connected with the body of the contact member, which consists of a cylindrical piece of carbon 25 provided at the ends thereof with kerfs or notches 26 for the reception of the prongs 24 which latter are bent beneath and adjacent to the body 25 so as to form retaining hooks 27 as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 6 the tongue 25 is bent outward above and adjacent to the body 25, which latter will thus be held very securely upon the strip 21, without the use of separate fastening or attaching devices. The method of constructing the contact member, and of assembling the parts thereof, is regarded as a valuable feature of the invention, inasmuch as by this construction, separate fastening members are entirely dispensed with; the parts are securely connected and assembled, without liability to displacement or loss; and the construction is much sim lified.

One side of the ho y of the switch-box is provided with anaperture 28 in which is tted an insulating p ug or bushing 29 helding a contact strip 30, one end of which projects beyond the box. The opposite end of the strip 30 extends into the switch-box, Where it is disposed in a suitable position to be engaged by the body oortion 25 of the contact member C when t e armature carrying rock shaft with which the contact-member is connected is oscillated under the mag netic influence of the pole pieces when the latter areenergized by the electro-magnets connectedwith a passing car.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The switch-boxes, constructed as herein described, are arran ed in the 'roadbed'between the traffic rai s atsuitable distances apart; usually about 8 feet, although the distance may be varied to suit varyin conditions. electro-magnets arran ed in series and en ported in suitable re ation to the switc oxes and to the pole pieces within the latter to energize saidpole pieces; the motor car is also provided with a collecting shoe adapted to engage the raised portions or bosses 8 of the switch-boxes for the purpose of establishing the re uisite electrical connection. When, under t e influence of the electromagnets, the ole ieces become energized, the armature w swing to the position in- The motor car .is equippe 'with- This is for the purpose of enabling dicated in dotted lines in- Fig. 1, until ar- 15 of the armature is ofiset slightly to one side,

will cause the armature to be supported, when at rest, in such a osition that the body of the armature will be much nearer to the pole piece in the direction of which it is intended to swing than to the opposite pole piece and consequently, when the pole pieces become energized, the armature will naturally positively and unfailingly swing in the direction of theleast resistance, and the contact member C will unfailingly engage the contact strip 80. It will moreover be noted that the lower ends of the pole pieces are formed with curved or arcuate concave inner faces, designated 31, the curvature of which corresponds with that of the convexly curved head 15' of the armature ;'the dimensions of the parts being so pro ortioned that when the armature rocks or scillates, the curved head'will assume a position very closely adjacent to the v arranged within the box and is made in two parts.

with the box.

in the usual manner.

concave face'31 of the proximatepole iece, thus placing a considerable portion of t e respective areas of the pole piece and armature in very close proximity, and correspondingly increasing the certainty action of the device.

As soon as the pole pieces become dener- I gized owing to the electro-magnets of the carpassing beyond the switch-box, the armature will be restored, by gravity, to the normal or initial position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which position it remains ready for a repetition of the operation.

In orderto prevent the contact switch box from remaining aliveforany reason after the car has passed, it has been proposed to employ a metal brush at the rear of the car which is adapted to contact with the switch box and produce a short circuit to ground so that the rush of current due to the full voltage of the system will blow a fuse usually arranged in the supply conductor connected In adapting the present device for operation in this manner, the fuse-is referably directly on the contact member& as shown in Fig. 9. The metal strip, such as 21, Fig. 6 The upper part 21 is secured to the top cap a of the fuse- F, while the lower part 21 is secured to the lower cap b,- the carbon contact piece 25 is mounted With a contact switch box equipped with a-safety device in this manner, the short circuit of a live box will and efficieney of the cause the fuse to bum out and thus open the path through the contact member C mounted on the oscillating armature. It will thusbe seen that the switch box forms a housing for the fuse and the fuse is not connected in circuit by means of binding posts or the like.

By the construction and arrangement of parts herein described, we are enabled to dispense entirely with wire wound pole ieces and with wire wound arniatures as wel this feature of the invention is regarded as of extreme importance, not only owing to the lessening of expense for initial construction, but

her in position without the need of other fastening devices. The rock shaft supporting the armature is mounted for oscillation in simple perforations in the sides of the bridge piece; and the contact InemberC is likewise constructed and assembled with the rock shaft without the use of separate fastening devices. Thus, the general construction is simple, inexpensive, and thoroughly efiicient fnr'the pur oses for which it is designed.

Havin t us fully described the invention, what is cdaimed as new is 1. A. contact switch-box comprising a cas ing, bare and unwound pole pieces supported in the casing and suitably spaced apart, a bare and unwound armature supported for oscillation intermediate the ole pieces, a contact member connected an movable with the armature, a stationary contact strip, and a fuse carried by the armature.

2. A contact switch-box for an .electric railway system, comprising a casingincluding a box or body and a cap detachably con nected therewith, bare and unwound pole pieces supported in the casing and suitably spaced apart, a bare and unwound armature supported for oscillation intermediate the pole pieces, and a fuse supported on the armature.

3. A contact switch-box of the class described, comprising a body, a cap detachably connected therewith, a bridge member seated in the body, pole pieces seated upon the bridge member in proximity to and retained in their seats by the cap, and an armature carrying rock shaft supported for oscillation upon t e bridge member intermediate the pole pieces.

4. A contact switchebox of the class dehaving oppositely disposed interior projecsupported upon the shoulders, pole pieces bridge member, and a cap detacha --nected with the box in proximit to the pole scribed, comprising a body, a cap detachably connected therewith, a bridge member seated in the body, pole pieces seated upon the bridge member in proximity to and retained in their seats by the cap, an armature carrying rock shaft su ported for oscillation upon the bridge mem ber intermediate the pole pieces, a contact member connected with the rock shaft at an angle to the longitudinal center of the armature, and a stationary contact strip adapted to be engaged by the contact member.

5. In a device of the class described, a box tions provided with recesses forming shoulders adjacent to their upper ends, a bridge member consisting of an approximately rectangular frame extending across the box and seated u on the bridge member and a cap secured etachably upon the box in proximity to the pole pieces which latter together 6. In a device of the class described, a box having interior shoulder projections, a bridge member consisting of a frame sup orted upon the shoulders and having recessed side pieces affording seats, pole pieces engaging the seats and having shoulders supported u on the lily conpieces which latter together wit the brldge member are thereby retained in position.

7. In a device of the class described, a box having a detachable cap, a bridge member supported in the box, ole pieces supported upon the bridge mem er with their upper ends in proximity to the ca an armature carrying rock shaft supporte for oscillation in the bridge member, and a contact member radiating from the rock shaft at an angle to the central longitudinal plane of the armature.

8. In a device of the class described, a rock shaft, having a notch at one end, an armature carried by the rock shaft, and a contact member including ametal strip having notches or indentations adjacent to one end which'is inserted into the notch of the rock shaft and assembled therewith by compression.

9. In a device of the class described, an armature carrying rock shaft having a notch at one end, in combination with a contact member including a metal strip having a notched and inserted into the notch of the rock shaft and secured by compression of the latter, and a body portion of'carbon or analogous material connected with the end of the metal strip distant from the rock shaft.

10. Ina device of the class described, an armature ca rock shaft and a contact member connec with and extending radially from said shaft, said contact member including a metal stri having terminal incisions forming hooke prongs and an outwardly bent tongue, and a cylindrical body ortion having notched ends engaged by the hooked prongs, said-cylindrical body portion being intermediately engaged by the outwardly bent tongue. q

11. In a device of the class described, an armature supported for'rotation and having a weighted body and a convexly curved head, in combination with pole pieces supported adjacent to said armature and con-- sisting of curved wedge-shaped bodies having concaved arcuate inner faces.

12. In a device of the class described, a bridge member consisting of an approximately rectangular frame, the sides of which are rovided with notches forming seats, in combination with curved Wedge-sha ed pole ieces engagingl seats and having s oulders earing upon t e upper edges of the sides of the bud e member, a rock shaft supported for oscil ation in the bridge member intermediate the ole pieces, an armature carried by the rock s aft, and a contact member also connected with the rock shaft and serving by gravity to support the armature in a normally tilted osition.

13. In a evice of the class described, a box provided with female threaded lugs or bosses in the bottom thereof and having interiorly disposed shouldered pro'ections, a bridge member consisting of a rame supported upon the shoulder and having notches at the ends thereof, ole pieces su orted upon thebridge member, a detachablecap supported in proximity to the pole pieces, and assembling bolts extending through the cap and having heads countersunk in and flush therewith, said bolts being'accommodated in the notches atthe ends of the bridge member and threaded into the lugs. in the bottom of'the'box.

14. A contact switch-box of the classdescribed, comprising a body, a cap detachably connected therewith, a bridge member loosely supported in the body of the box, bare and unwound pole pieces loosely supported upon the bridge member with their upper ends in proximity to the underside of the ca a bare and unwound armature supported 'or oscillation upon the bridge member intermediate the pole pieces and having a convexly curved been adapted to swing in close proximity to the concavely curved face of the proximate pole piece, a contact member operatively .connected with the armature at an an le to the central longitudinal plane of the latter and serving by gravity to maintain the armature in a normally tilted position, and a stationary insulated contact strip extending through a side wall of the box in the direction of the armature.

15. In a device of the class described. the combination of a magnetically actuated armember cooperating mature, a switch opened and closed by the movement of the armature, and a fuse con- I nected in the circuit between the switch and armature and supported on the latter.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of an armature ma netic means for operating the same, a switc controlled y the movement of the armature, and a fuse movable with the armature and electrically connected between the same and switch.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of an armature, a contact member carried thereby, a stationary contact with the first member to 0 en and close the circuit, a fuse included in t e first contact member, and means for Witnesses:

actuating the armature.

' a 18. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pivoted armature having its mass so distributed as to cause the armature to assume a definite position, magnetic means arranged to operate on the armature for movement in only one direction, a fuse carried by the armature, and a switch opened and closed by the movement of the armature and normally heldopen by the normal position of the latter;

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses. CHAS. A. HUSE.

. JOHN G. DOUTY.

EMMA KNAPP, J OHN K. 'Hoovnn. 

